The family of Ruth Elizabeth Peaper-Fillyaw have donated a tree and granite bench in her name, to honor her many years of service to UNH. Ruth retired in May 2015 from her position as Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Programs in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, after 18 years of service. Throughout her career, Ruth had a special interest in clinical supervision. She was a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Supervision of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and ASHA's Working Group on Medicaid Reimbursement. She was active in the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, serving on the Task Force in Clinical Educator Preparation and as Chair of the Working Group on Supervision. In 2012, Ruth received the New Hampshire Speech-Language-Hearing Association's President's Award. This is the association’s highest honor and is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession of speech-language pathology or audiology.

She was a valued colleague and worked tirelessly to support the clinical education of the graduate students. Ruth lived with grace, dignity, and great courage despite a seven-year battle with breast cancer. Her optimism and zest for life was an inspiration to all who knew her.

Students Remember Ruth:Ruth was an amazing gift to students and supervisors

I was a student of Ruth's at UNH in 2003-2005. To say that she made an impression on me as a SLP is an understatement. she was kind, encouraging, and intelligent. I truly admired her and learned so much from her.

Without you Ruth, we all wouldn't be half the clinicians we are now. We thank you for the guidance and support you have given, and we are all blessed to have known you.

Ruth demonstrated a compassion for her professional field and dedicated her time and unfaltering energy to educating and advocating for others. I greatly admired Ruth's knowledge, experience, and her ability to share and guide me along my own career path, and can only aspire to follow in her footsteps. I am forever grateful for the interactions I shared with her

I was a non-traditional student and Ruth was of great help to me as I worked to manage a family, home, and academic/clinical responsibilities. I learned from her, enjoyed her, and always looked forward to catching up with her at ASHA.

Ruth was an amazing mentor, teacher, and friend. I owe so much of the early stages of my career to her; She helped me navigate my way through undergraduate and graduate school! She will be greatly missed and forever remembered.